Retirement Boehner is pretty entertaining. But that's a hard no on all of them. Death is always an option.

CBO is saying that in the first year 14 million people would lose their insurance ... and for anyone who isn't young and healthy to start with, it'll be more expensive.

I think what conservative wonks want is a system in which health insurance only covers catastrophic costs and people just pay for other services. That way people will be better consumers, driving down health costs. Of course, that's a hard sell, so they tend to be a bit deceptive when trying to make the sale.

Today was one of those mornings where I lay in bed and tried to think of a good reason to get up. I didn't really come up with anything.

I got up because everyone else who is on my workflow is out of office and I have to cover for them. I haven't quite figured out how to make myself do that work, but I'm wearing outside clothes and en route to my office.

But that's a hard no on all of them. Death is always an option.

Beauty call. They're all 10-ply anyway.

They're all 10-ply anyway.

???

Motivation to work today is severely lacking. Today is my Friday. I'm looking forward to taking tomorrow off. Friday and Saturday will be focused on cooking up a storm for our NoRouz party on Sunday. Persian New Year/first day of Spring is Monday. I'm so excited to be having a Open House for our friends. RSVPs have been low but I'm hoping people show up anyway. If not, we will have delicious food for days.

This is another time I wish I had local Buffistae. Nicole said she may come, so there is the possibility of one. I know she doesn't post here anymore, but she will always be a Buffista.

I would be all about a Persian New Year party, were I in the area. I imagine the food will be amazing!

All day today it has sounded like the people above me are rearranging their furniture, which wouldn't be weird at all except that there *is* no above me. I'm on the top floor of the complex.

Surely Spicer believes anything he is told and will believe it is my family tradition to live in different cities.

Bwah!

I imagine the food will be amazing!

The menu will include:

• Shirin Polo aka Jeweled Rice with small lamb balls, candied orange peel, slivered carrots, and slivered almonds
  
• Dolma - Rice, lamb, and herbs stuffed grape leaves. Persian style is quite different from the Greek version most people are familiar with. They are cooked with a sweet sour mix of vinegar and sugar so they don't have the oil that the Greek version have.
  
• Fessenjoon with Persian Rice - Chicken, pomegranate syrup, ground walnut stew with rice that has been soaked before cooking and then steamed which creates very fluffy rice that doesn't stick together.
  
• Panir Sabzeh - Bread (pita and sangak (similar to lavash), basil, mint, tarragon, radish, sweet onion, and feta cheese
  
• Baklavah - Kelly will be making this using my mom's recipe which was handed down from my Persian grandma.
  
• I also bought some Persian chickpea and rice cookies along with some Gaz which is a nougat and pistachio confection.
  
• Persian black tea served in fancy silver tea glasses (need to get those polished today)

I think that covers it. Oh, wine, beer, iced tea, and water. The weather is supposed to be in the mid-70s, so we will be both inside and out back. I miss hanging out on the back porch.

ETA - I knew I forgot something.

• Maast-o Khiar - Yogurt with shredded/chopped cucumber, mint, dill, and yellow raisins.

We slept with the windows open last night, and I have done nothing but sneeze. I have spent more time sneezing than working today.

Maast-o Khiar - Yogurt with shredded/chopped cucumber, mint, dill, and yellow raisins.

Oh! I bet that was one of the dishes I was afraid to try at the wedding I went to last weekend. I should have had DH take some and let me know. If I couldn't tell for sure it was meatless I skipped it. Baklavah was consumed without hesitation.